Taranatha
Short Biography
Important master of the Jonang lineage.
(1575–1635) The last great throne-holder at Jonang, Taranatha was a successor to the reincarnation line of Kunga Drolchok. He received the entirety of major transmissions from the Kadam, Zhalu, Sakya, Shangpa Kagyu and Kamtsang Kagyu traditions, and was an expert on the tantras from the later translation period (gsar bsgyur). He received the Dro lineage of the Kalachakra from his teacher Kunga Palzang at Jomonang, and the transmissions according to Buton's Zhalu Rwa tradtion from Kenchen Lunrig Gyatso.
As one of the most prolific authors in the Jonang tradition, his 23 volumes of collected works encompass topics on history, tantric ritual practice, zhentong thought, autobiography, pilgrimage, astrology, medicine, meditation, etc.
In the year 1615, Taranatha founded Takten Damcho Ling Monastery (Phuntsok Ling) south of the Richo Chenmo mountain hermitage and Great Stupa of Jonang.
Primary Teachers
Primary Students
Gyaltsab Narthangpa
Lodrö Namgyal
Primary Lineage
Publications
- rgya gar chos 'byung or dam pa'i chos rin po che 'phags pa'i yul du ji ltar dar ba'i tshul gsal bar ston pa dgos 'dod kun 'byung
Alternate Names & Spellings
- Kunkhyen Taranatha kun mkhyen t'a ra na tha
- Jetsun Taranatha rje brtsun t'a ra na tha
- Jonang Taranatha jo nang t'a ra na tha
- Drolwe Gonpo grol ba'i mgon po
- Kunga Nyingpo - kun dga' snying po
- Kunkhyen Jonangpa
- tA ra nA tha
Other Reference Sources
- Rgyal rtse Edition Outline (PDF)
- 'Dzam thang Edition Outline (PDF)
- "Origin of the Tara Tantra" By Jonang Taranatha
- "The Outer Autobiography of Jonang Taranatha": At The TCC Web-site in TibDoc
- The Essence of Other-Emptiness: by Taranatha, trans. & annotated by Jeffrey Hopkins
Internal Links
External Links
- Jonang Foundation[1]
- Jonangpa Blog[2]
- Tāranātha: A ‘Virtual Indian’ in 16th–17th century Tibet[3]
- At Simhanada--- Tai Situ Taranatha